What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 2
Our fair and Holy City of Charleston, South Carolina, is painted with dabs and dots of a single signature color, which is commonly referred to as Charleston Green. It's a color that could dress up the shabbiest Charleston single house, and aggrandize the smallest freedman's cottage.
A green so dark it appears black, it lends an air of subtle chameleon mystery to streets with light streaming through moss draped trees. The color changes as you move and elevates what might have been a simple flat black to a rich and dignified tone.
The History Behind Charleston Green
Charleston Green lends a formal sensibility, but the purported history is more rebellious. The origin of the color is contested, but the story goes that after the American Civil War, the Union sent buckets of plain black government-issued paint down to Charleston to gloss over what war had done to the city. But Charlestonians, less than impressed with boring black, added yellow and blue (or green, depending on the source) to make the deep forest green now named for the city where it originated.
How to Use Charleston Green on Your Home
If you're strolling Downtown Charleston on the brick, pavement, or cobblestone streets, you'll notice the hue applied to front doors, window shutters, Italianate trim and even balustrades. There's no right or wrong way to use Charleston Green, but do remember that direct sunlight will heat the dark color and could cause it to bubble, or even be hot to the touch—a danger those moss draped trees can alleviate, since the Charleston housing market is quite hot enough on its own.
This deepest-deep green hue can be used in a variety of different exterior color schemes. The most classic is off-white with Charleston Green shutters and doors. Green shutters can compliment a lighter green home, a yellow home, or even a pink one.
If you'd like to add a touch of black-tie class, but don't want to darken your overall palette, try painting just the front door, or brushing the window sashes with Charleston Green while the casing remains white. Some homes paint only their front steps in the color. Window boxes are a nice place to add a deep green to bring out the green leaves and flowers and provide a visual anchor to the shape of the windows. Think of them as the strong brows on the face of your home.
You can also pull the color inside by using it on an interior staircase or in a study. Give a high-style makeover to a small half bath with a stunning high gloss enamel finish or treat a mantle to a stroke of dark green.
While the color chip is readily available from Historic Charleston Foundation's collection at your nearest Sherwin-Williams, you could also mix your own using a local recipe:
DIY: Charleston Green Recipe
10 ounces black paint
4 ounces green paint
½ ounce yellow paint
Now that you know what to look for, the next time you're walking South of Broad , you'll more easily spot the difference between a true black hue and the trademark tint that we call Charleston Green.
Looking for something different? See below for current listings downtown Charleston!
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3 1/2 Saint Michaels Alley
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005527 / Active Contingent
Beautifully renovated Fitz Simmons single family home in the heart of downtown Charleston. This home features 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths plus an up...
84 Bull Street UNIT E
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21005504 / Active
NOTE- the pictures were taken when the owner occupied the unit. It is currently vacant.Completely renovated 2 Bedroom 2 Bath condo located in soug...
61 1/2 Tradd Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005476 / Active
This historic, circa 1736 pre-revolutionary charmer in beautiful downtown Charleston offers the perfect location, just steps away from The Battery ...
105 Bull Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21005457 / Active Contingent
With a rich history dating back to the 1850's, this historic condominium at Bee's Row was meticulously restored and renovated. The light-filled con...
13 Logan Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005460 / Active
Situated in Charleston's South of Broad neighborhood, 13 Logan Street (c.1870) has been through an extensive 18-month restoration completed by HHM ...
4 Gibbes Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005425 / Active
This historic home, circa 1790, in the South of Broad neighborhood of Charleston, has been renovated with the utmost respect to the properties uniq...
87 E Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005420 / Active
Charming turn-key circa 1780 brick Carriage House on Rainbow Row in Historic Charleston. The perfect pied-a-terre, high quality finishes with expos...
65 Vanderhorst Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 21005362 / Active
Charleston charm abounds in this ideally located condo. Walkable to the college and all that downtown Charleston has to offer. Grand historic home ...
22 Bee Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 21005363 / Active
RECENTLY REMODELED and TURN KEY! Beautiful, new luxury vinyl plan flooring throughout the living spaces and new ceramic tile in the bathroom! Fresh...
38 S Battery
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005361 / Active
This beautiful South of Broad home enjoys water views of the Ashley River and White Point Garden at the tip of the Charleston Peninsula. Enjoy the ...
173 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005328 / Active
ROOM TO BREATH! Built in 1873, the Prioleau-Miles House is packed with charm and opportunity to create a masterful estate on a uniquely large and c...
50 S Battery Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005297 / Active
Your piece of Charleston history is waiting for you at 50 B South Battery. Just a block away from the water in the most popular and well-known loca...
55 Society Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 21005267 / Active
Located in historic Ansonborough close to shopping, restaurants, hospitals and the College of Charleston, this gem has much to offer: a fireplace i...
178 Queen Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21005255 / Active
Ideally located in Harleston Village and close to Colonial Lake, this restored historic home impresses with modern touches while keeping with the t...
4 Percy Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliotborough
Residential
MLS# 21005259 / Active
Location,Location,Location! House has a big lot with off street parking. Property has fire damage from house next door and is not livable. Agents ...
128 Bull Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005246 / Active
The Joseph Bennett House (Thomas Grange Simons House) is a Notable, Category 2 home, built Circa 1814 and is emphasized by a central pedimented pav...
78 Hanover Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 21005247 / Active
3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, 1650sf home over two-car garage. Owner-built in 2018, this home offers modern finishes. An open layout allows for ample l...
1 Vendue Range UNIT F
Charleston, SC 29401
One Vendue Range
Residential
MLS# 21005249 / Active
Luxurious Downtown living awaits at One Vendue Range; Charleston's premiere waterfront luxury community located in the historic French Quarter acro...
53 Hasell Street UNIT K
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 21005221 / Active
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION & OFF-STREET PARKING! It would be difficult to find a location in the heart of the City's historic district that could...
102 Queen Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21005047 / Active
This historic Charleston single house combines the charm of the 19th century with the comfortable modern lifestyle of today. In 2019, the home was ...
45 East Bay Street UNIT D
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21005022 / Active
Location, location, location! Stay close to home and have the highly desirable South of Broad lifestyle at your fingertips! This property puts you ...
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Marshall Walker Real Estate are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Last updated on 03-07-2021 8:06 PM EST .
The broker providing these data believes them to be correct, but advises interested parties to confirm them before relying on them in a purchase decision.
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